The Tour of Cap Martin between Menton and Monaco

If you come to the Menton coast for a summer stay or during the Menton Lemon Festival, don’t forget to bring your walking shoes. We recommend you take the Cap Martin Circuit; an easy hike that anyone can enjoy with magnificent view points and bathing opportunities.

Cap Martin, like the Cap d’Antibes or Cap Ferrat, is a natural site that should not be missed along the Côte d’Azur. Cap Martin shelters a few villas along the Mediterranean coast, some of which date back to the ‘Belle Epoque’ and the 19th Century. The path walk starts at Carnolès Beach in the Baie du Soleil. Using your vehicle the Avenue W. Churchill which takes you to your departure point. There is a restaurant to your left with a view over Menton Bay and a parking area. Leave your car there and start the walk. To get to the other end of the headland it will take approximately 1h30 to cover the three kilometres at a leisurely pace. At the beginning of the path you will pass under a tunnel then the path overlooks the sea. Little by little you will start to see Monaco opposite you with its tall buildings. If you lift your head you will also see Mont Gros, a favourite place for paragliding.

Bathing opportunities

All along the walk there are numerous possibilities to go down to the water’s edge using the stairs carved into the rock face. We recommend you come prepared with a mask and snorkel if you take this walk during summer. During winter however there are superb light conditions, perfect for taking some lovely photographs. Towards the end of the walk you will reach Gabbé Bay where you will see the below the famous “cabanon du Corbusier” . This is a small wooden cabin with an area of 14m2 that can be visited upon request to the Tourist Office at Roquebrune Cap Martin. This maritime part that you can see forms part of the Roquebrune Cap Martin Bay with Gabbé Point. At the end of this bay there are two lovely pebble beaches; Buse Beach (more info here) and Golfe Bleu (more info here). From these beaches you can climb up to the SNCF train station of Roquebrune Cap Martin.

The visit to the Medieval Village of Roquebrune Cap Martin

We recommend you climb up to the village of Roquebrune Cap Martin that overlooks the entire bay. An alternative is to leave your vehicle in the parking area of the SNCF train station, which is free, then leave in the direction of Menton. The renovated medieval village of Roquebrune Cap Martin, 300 metres above sea level, is a site that should not be missed. Roquebrune Chateau, which belongs to the Counts of Ventimille, is worth a visit too. The visit is payable but definitely worth it. To get to the village from the seaside path you should take the stairs at the “cabanon du Corbusier” then the Avenue Herriot leading to Avenue Leclerc to reach the N7. Then, take the Pelissier path followed by the path for Menton. You will pass by two chapels before you reach the village.